Grodner sheperds popular franchise

'Big Brother' remains CBS success story

CBS tapped Emmy-winning producer Allison Grodner as exec producer-showrunner of “Big Brother” after the first season, in hopes of taking the show in a new direction.

“America was voting out some of the most interesting people,” Grodner says. “People had no motivation to deal with each other and play what ultimately was an amazing psychological and sociological game. Instead of the popular vote, we decided to turn the game inside the house.”

After 11 seasons, Grodner calls “Big Brother” the “grandfather of reality,” with “Big Brother: After Dark” airing on Showtime and live streaming on the Web 24/7.

“Real people in unedited, real-time situations — we’re the only show that’s watched like that,” says Grodner, who has partnered with “Brother” exec producer Rich Meehan on a two-year production pact with Sony Pictures TV. “(Because) we have these other platforms, ‘Big Brother’ is one of the least manipulated reality shows that exists today.

“There are so many shows where you can say, ‘They took that from “Big Brother” ‘ — versions of the way eliminations are handled, nominations or evictions — and I’m proud of that.”